Carrie Underwood Is Returning to ‘American Idol’ as Mentor, Performer

Carrie Underwood will return to the stage that helped make her a star more than a decade ago. ABC has confirmed the superstar's return to American Idol, where she'll pull double duty as both a mentor and performer on Sunday, May 13.

After instilling her wisdom onto the show's remaining contestants, the AI Season 5 winner will grace the stage with her new single, "Cry Pretty." She debuted a dramatic, emotional video for the song during Sunday's show (May 6).

The remaining Top 5 contestants — Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard — are making a special trip to Nashville this week to work with the star and will perform songs from Underwood's songbook during next week's live episode.

Carrie May Be the Same, But Country Music Has Changed!

Underwood is one of several country stars already to appear on the reality competition's reboot, with former winner Scotty McCreery also playing mentor. Country's Cam and Sugarland performed with some of the Top 24 contestants, which are now a Top 5. Luke Bryan has also represented country music while holding his own as a judge alongside Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.

"Cry Pretty" marks the powerhouse singer's first single release since "Dirty Laundry" topped the charts in early 2017. She also served as Keith Urban's duet partner on "The Fighter" — a song that reached the top of the country charts and scored the superstars an ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year in 2018. Underwood is set to release her new album, Cry Pretty, on Sept. 14 via her new record label home, Capitol Nashville.

Fans who can't get enough of Idol received exciting news recently when ABC announced that the popular singing show will return for a second season. All three of the show's judges — yes, Luke Bryan — will make their way back to the panel, along with host Ryan Seacrest.

"It's all because of you guys, the music fans out there for bringing it back," Bryan confirms on Twitter. A Season 2 premiere date has not been announced.